Mothers are by far the most beautiful creatures in the world. There is nothing more beautiful than a mother. There has never been a beauty pageant winner more beautiful than a pregnant woman. A pregnant woman glows with the grace of God. She is one with God. Her love has borne fruit with the life in her womb. She is transformed into an other-worldly beauty. Anyone can naturally see this.

When I would see my wife when she was pregnant I experienced an overwhelming drive to embrace her. I wanted to be one with that love she was exuding. A mother is a lover, in the true sense of the word. Yes, she is a lover because the love that she gives is very costly to her through the physical difficulties of her pregnancies, through the pain of childbirth, through the mountain of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual self-giving.

To be a mother is to be a pourer, one who does not hold back but rather pours out all she has throughout her entire life, unto death, and into eternity. This is agape love, a supreme love of total self-giving. Through all the challenges of motherhood she owns a deep interior joy. From the miraculous moment she becomes a mother, from the first moment of conception (fertilization), when our Heavenly Father of Mercies breathes life into that new unrepeatable eternal person, she will never be the same. She is now a mother. Think of a mother embracing or serving her children. Is there a more stirring sight in the world?

When we hear or utter the name “mother,” really we should bow or genuflect. In a sense, we are encountering God in a mother. We need to create a culture that honors mothers. We are called to honor mothers who are old, wrinkled, perhaps forgotten in nursing homes; to honor mothers whose children perhaps did not seem to turn out as perfectly as their dreams had hoped for. But nothing is lost with God. With God all things are possible.

Elderly mothers: every wrinkle, gray hair, varicose vein, pain, and frailty you have is a purple-heart medal for which you should beam with a holy pride. Mothers, mothers-to-be, grandmothers … do you hear what I am saying? Do you realize the grand dignity you have, the necessary awe-inspiring sign that you are in the world?

And we cannot leave out those women who ache to be mothers, who have not yet had this dream fulfilled, or may not be given the grace physically to be mothers. They too should be honored as mystical mothers. God honors the intention and the will. The ache of those women who wish to be mothers but cannot is an immense gift of sharing in the sorrows of Jesus in a redemptive way. Those aches and sorrows, that pain that cannot be described in words is a life-giving pain. It is in itself a real form of motherhood as motherhood is life-giving. The fruit of this redemptive pain is parceled out to other souls and participates in our blessed Lord Jesus’s redemptive passion for their salvation. This mystical motherhood is not inferior to physical motherhood. It is profound. These mystical mothers will find in eternity that their love and their sorrow bore fruit in many spiritual children by whom they will be honored and spend their eternity with in heaven, because this contributed to their salvation.

Let’s find ways to make every day Mother’s Day, though our prayers, deeds and words. Let’s show our reverence for our mothers, for all mothers, and contribute our own irreplaceable and necessary part in creating that culture that profoundly honors mothers. When we succeed at this many of our other pro-life issues will fade like a mist. Omnia vincit amor (Virgil), Love conquers all, especially the love of and for Mothers!

James M. Littleton is President, Co-founder & Co-director of Forming Faithful Families *Core material borrowed from the book, Better by the Dozen, Plus Two: Anecdotes and a Philosophy of Life from a Family of Sixteen, by James and Kathleen Littleton, and Forming Faithful Families radio and television programs.

One day several years ago, after listening to my husband complain yet again about his job, I began an innocent and unobtrusive prayer campaign for his fulfillment as the breadwinner of the family.Being theIrish Catholic that I am, I wrote on a note card, “Dear Jesus, please help Doug find fulfillment in his career” and stuck it in my Bible.Forgetting I ever did that, recently as I was reading my Bible, the note dropped out on my lap. A few years ago, he found his present position in a completely different state miles away from home, but being satisfied in his job and having the faculty status as an associate professor and director of a core facility, he has found fulfillment. Proof of answered prayer, even one left to its own for a time.

He didn’t know I did this for him, I had even forgotten that I did this for him, but at the time and so many times during those unsatisfied years, I had silently prayed to Jesus for his fulfillment.

Thinking about a woman’s prayer in the different phases and walks of life, I want to appreciate these ladies and their faith.

A mother’s prayer

Mother Mary is the greatest intercessor for her children. At the foot of the cross, Jesus gave Mary to the apostle as his mother and gave him to her as her child. At that very moment, Mary became our mother too, and like any earthly mother, she is concerned for us and loves us abundantly. I turn to her daily!

A grandmother‘s prayer adds an extra special fervor for the child that brings them delight and continues her lineage; the layers of love from her own child to the thrill of her child’s children, makes her prayers all the more special.

A mom’s prayer is rooted in her deep and biological connection with her child, even mothers of adopted children form equally deep connections for the children in their care. My prayer life as a mom has always been a challenge, until recently when I learned a huge lesson that while I prayed for my children, I also had to let go and allow God to do HIS work. Letting go and having faith that He loves us and our children has been the lesson I didn’t even know I needed to learn until I learned it. As my rebellious child drove away to another unknown place with unknown people, I had to just give her to Jesus and let her go…THAT was hard, but when I realized that there was NOTHING I could do for her, and that God alone had the controls, it was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

A popular story about my grandmother during her mothering years was when my twin uncles tried to stop a car racing down a hill. Instead of watching the ordeal, she calmly went into the powder room in the hall and prayed the rosary until it was over and the twins were triumphant.

The women in the church, much like Anna of the bible, root their prayers deeply from altruistic love, the desire for good things for others. Their prayers are wholeheartedly given in faith.

The many religious communities pray constantly, giving their lives to Christ and His Church, for the people of God. Oh, I wouldn’t want to even think of our world without these beautiful communities and their prayers for us.

A wife’s prayer

Mother Mary must have prayed a great deal for her husband, Joseph, thanksgiving prayers for his obedience and patience to God’s will and for the gift of fatherhood that he gave to Jesus. She surely had prayers for his health and for healing during times of trials that he and the family endured and prayers for his strength. She must have prayed a great deal at the end of his life, since we don’t know what that was like, surely one can imagine the prayers of a wife for her dying husband.

A wife prays for her husband on so many levels; first for his fulfillment in his relationship with her, then his fulfillment in his career, and also for his relationship with the children. We want them strong, wise, and fulfilled, don’t we? My husband has had many trials through the years, including the loss of his father, caring for his aging mother, health issues, as well as family and career. It seems that there are always reasons for prayer, even when things are going well. When times are good, my prayers are more thanksgiving for the many blessings that surround him and us.

Praying during the good and quiet times are easy, if we do it at all, but finding the strength to pray at times of real trial and suffering can be a trial in itself, yet with the inner strength of a woman, she prays on through the ordeal. Mother Mary is the perfect example of that as she watched her only son during his passion and death….Oh, it hurts to think of her during the crucifixion of Jesus! As a mother and a wife, there is always time and need for prayer, always someone who needs extra guidance, strength, and wisdom. But on the outside of the immediate family, we women reach out and pray for those around us and in the news suffering trials of their own.

All I know really about women’s prayer is what I know of myself and the women around me. We pray, and pray, and pray mostly without ceasing for those around us that we care about and even those we don’t particularly care about, but know they need prayers. All the while growing closer to our Heavenly Father and finding His peace…in letting go and letting Him.

Today, I’m very happy to share my recent conversation with a beautiful “soul sister” of mine, Brooke Taylor. While Brooke and I have never had the pleasure of meeting in person, she has been a great online friend and supporter of both CatholicMom.com and of my writing. Today, Brooke shares with us her very special new project, a CD called “Pray with Me”. Here is a brief overview:

Pray with Me is n album containing a treasury of Catholic family prayers set to original music compositions, many prayers containing a narrative historical description pointing out the origins and importance of the prayer, and several prayers recited in Latin.

I recently had the opportunity to personally review “Pray with Me” and highly recommend it as a gift for your family. Whether you already pray all of the over thirty prayers on this project or you’re not praying at home at all, this CD has something special for you and your family!

The Taylor Family – copyright Brooke Taylor, used with permission

Q: Please briefly introduce yourself and your family to our readers.

I am a wife and mom of five. We have four biological boys and a daughter, whom we adopted from Poland. I’m also a radio personality, speaker and blogger. For the last ten years I worked as morning show co-host at Contemporary Christian radio station in Cleveland, OH. I recently left my job to be a stay-home mom.

Q: Congratulations on the recording of the beautiful CD “Pray with Me”. Please describe this project for our readers and tell us what motivated this recording.

Thank you, Lisa! This project was dormant in my heart for years. It came from my experience of working at the radio station, and encountering so many lapsed Catholics who never “got” their faith or understood the beauty and origins behind many of our Church traditions. I also connected with families simply trying to better “live out” their beliefs at home, but struggling to find practical ways to do so. Our faith is so rich and deep, but it can also be intimidating and overwhelming for those who don’t really know where to start. Once I left my job, I knew it was time to step out and follow God’s call to bring this CD to life. Because, anyone can pray!

Brooke Taylor – copyright Brooke Taylor, used with permission

Q: What are your hopes for this project in terms of reaching the families you are trying to serve? How can an audio CD be a gift to families who may be struggling with prayer in their homes?

My hope is to plant a seed about the power of prayer, and how that can strengthen the foundation of each family, and offer a lifelong reservoir of grace. Once these prayers are learned, they remain in our minds and hearts forever, and I cannot think of a more valuable treasure to pass along to our children!

Q: What advice do you have for parents who may never have tried to pray with their children, both young ones and teens or young adults?

I would like to encourage parents to have hope and faith! It’s never too late. Something as simple as teaching your child the Sign of the Cross can be the key that unlocks their heart to having a relationship with Christ. Something happens we say these prayers that cannot be seen. In the spiritual realm, prayers are a powerful proclamation. Learning even one simple prayer can create a small spark that has the potential to set off a wonderful wildfire of faith in their lives. That’s the power of the Holy Spirit, and the beauty of our Catholic prayers.

Q: You’ve recently undergone a transition in your career. What are your goals now for your work and home lives?

Yes! Our daughter was diagnosed with Institutional Autism and with her needs, along with the busyness of four boys, I knew it was time to “retire” from early mornings and long weekends in ministry and care for my family full-time. I have recently started a podcast with my friend, Jennifer Willits, called “Good Things Radio.” We record from our homes, so that has been a wonderful blessing! I’m also a speaker and emcee and enjoy the blessing of still connecting with other women that way.

Well, well, well. I’m baaaaack…and with a sidekick. (In case you missed it, I had the baby a bit early.) I’ve had a chance to do some reading in the last few weeks that has been nothing short of delightful…and not just because I’ve had a baby in my arms while I’ve been doing it.

Many of the books I’ve been reading are advance copies, so I can’t link to pre-orders or anything, but I want to capture my thoughts about them while they’re fresh in my mind. So keep your eyes out for these books…and yeah, I’m sure I’ll be mentioning them again, as they get close to publication time.

Recent Reads

This book is a gift. Randy Hain has pulled together a number of dads of special needs children and between their chapters, he has shared interviews and wisdom. This book is a look inside the head of dads and, as a mom, I loved getting this look inside. This book is going to be the kind of book that I think everyone should probably read, moms and dads alike.

I’m a John Desjarlais fangirl, and given the chance to read the latest of his novels, I jumped. Really high. And loudly. Brace yourself: this is a great book that you’ll be sorry to see end (just like his others). Fast paced, great characters, and a plot that will keep you guessing.

Soul Provider, by Shirley France (expected publication Fall 2015)

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I heard Shirley speak and have had the opportunity to get to know her personally a bit (we have the same spiritual director). Her story is powerful and a wow read.

I’ve been a Catholic Drinkie fangirl for many, many years. In fact, the Catholic Drinkie was born in a blogging class I was teaching. Well, here’s the book, folks, and it’s just as great as you would expect it to be if you’ve been following Sarah’s work over the years. This is going to be the kind of book you buy two copies of: one for yourself and one for a gift (maybe more than one for a gift, come to think of it).

This was my guilty pleasure postpartum reading and OH, what delightful wonderful great reading it was! I actually bought this book, and then I hunted down the author for a copy of her new release (which I’ll be reading soon and very soon).

Wonderfully written, tightly plotted, and a delight all around. It’s YA, and I’d call it good for your 8th grade and up kids, and maybe for kids younger than that, too, but I always hesitate on age recommendations. I think my fourth-grader is a bit young for some of this.

Our own Mary Wallace has taken a topic near and dear to my heart and written a book about it. (She has a blog on this topic, too.) Her treatment of it is excellent and I can’t wait to see the book in my hands. What I read of this advance copy was refreshing and wonderful and something I’m looking forward to sharing far and wide.

This week is Holy Week for Christians. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and finally the Resurrection.

On Holy Thursday, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and told us that He would be with us always.

On Good Friday, He showed us how to suffer through the worst of all deaths, the excruciating death of an innocent man through the conniving of greedy and selfish people–a suffering He allowed, for us.

And on Easter Sunday, He rose from the tomb into which evil cast Him.

He rose because no grave could hold Him. No grave could silence Him. No grave could keep Him from us, his beloved–each one of us.

Jesus Christ showed us the way that any one of us can be resurrected as well. First, by our sincere desire for it. Second, by repentance of our sins and a decision to change our behavior. And third, by being open to the Mercy of God, our Father.

The question is: Do we want a life beyond our earthly grave? Do we want to be resurrected?

Resurrection is defined in the dictionary as the act of causing something that had ended or been forgotten or lost to exist again, to be used again, etc.

We come into this world innocent, and nothing can change that we’re made in the image and likeness of God. Part of each one of us is spiritual, like it or not. And it is that spirituality that draws us to God.

But we’ve also been given a free will by our Creator. We can make choices, and some of those choices are wrong ones that steer us away from the inborn spirituality God set in us, and toward a dead end, where we often have no desire to change, or re-charge ourselves. Many of us are fine with our lives as we’re living them. Yet we want eternal life.

Eternal life is the promise of a loving God. In order to receive it, we must resurrect ourselves in the here and now. We must choose, by our own will, an end to our sins.

So that no grave can hold us. No grave can silence us. No grave can keep us from the God who loves us.

]]>http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/31/resurrection-for-me/feed/0Tech Talk: The End of an Erahttp://catholicmom.com/2015/03/31/the-end-of-an-era/
http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/31/the-end-of-an-era/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 11:00:07 +0000http://catholicmom.com/?p=81737

Photo courtesy of photopin.com

A few weeks ago, I finally broke down and replaced my first generation iPad. My old iPad was still hanging in there, but it had long since failed the update test: new apps wouldn’t deign to give it their attention and even the old apps were turning their backs, heading for the shininess of upgrades that made them faster and more efficient. Though my iPad showed no signs of any self-esteem issues, it was rapidly growing much too clunky to be anything more than a repository for e-mails, music and old versions of games.

I tried to be loyal. I kept reasoning that a new iPad was a want, not a need. I have an iPhone and a Macbook that are hard-working and perfectly serviceable, particularly when I remember to do upgrades. A new iPad was simply an embarrassment of riches.

But then Target ran a special, and on one of the Friday nights that we do our weekly shopping trip, I visited the electronics department (not for the first time). On prior visits, I’d looked through the case at the iPads, checked the price tag and then dutifully pushed my cart to the grocery department.

Not this time. Two specials, one time-sensitive, one not, would drop the price nearly 15%. Not huge, but given Apple’s aversion to sales, nothing to sneeze at — or walk away from — either.

And there was one left.

I got my new iPad home and found that while the basics had stayed the same, a lot had changed. The retina display alone made it clear that I’d upgraded — it was like putting on a new pair of glasses. Apps I’d previously paid for (and if you read my Tech Talk posts regularly, you know I don’t do that often) were now free! Suddenly, I had not only Pages and Keynote (which I’d previously purchased) but Numbers as well, making it immeasurably easier to open (the dreaded) Excel apps I sometimes need to use for work. The upgrades that had failed to load on my old machine were standard fare on my shiny new one.

And not only did my upgraded apps look better, but there were now plenty of apps available to me that had previously been lurking in the App Store, out of reach of my old friend, the first generation iPad.

A whole new batch of Tech Talks.

I’m not sure what will become of my old friend. Together with my bluetooth speakers, it’ll make a pretty cool stereo system for my little office, so that’s a possibility. For now, it sits in a stand on my desk, reminding me that it’s still there, ready to be pressed into service.

Today’s gospel passage from John brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. I try to imagine Christ, fully human and fully divine, dining for one last time with his closest friends. As I picture them in the Upper Room, huddled together and listening to their Master, I imagine Judas and Peter.

Two men, having given their lives to follow Christ, are about to turn their backs on him. And Jesus knows this. Surely his human heart must have grieved to see the love he had poured upon them be returned with betrayal and denial.

Seated in my mind at that table, listening to Jesus—my master—teach and pray, I want to believe that I would be the Beloved Disciple, the one who stood firm and loyal. But I know that all too often, I am Judas, I am Peter. I desire to be loyal, but I am weak and fearful.

Would I lay down my life for Jesus? Every day, in tiny ways, I am given the opportunity to prove my love. Too often, I falter and fail. Blessedly, Jesus came for each of us even in our human frailty. In God, there is endless mercy and grace.

Jesus has laid down his life for me.

Ponder:

As we begin our journey through Holy Week, how have you turned your back on the God who loves you? In what ways can you stand firmly in love with Jesus Christ?

Pray:

Jesus, savior, you laid down your life for me. I pray today and always for the conversion of my heart, for the strength to never deny your love, and for the grace to one day be with you fully and forever.

]]>http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/31/daily-gospel-reflection-for-march-31-2015/feed/1Book Review: 1,000 Facts about the Biblehttp://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/book-review-1000-facts-about-the-bible/
http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/book-review-1000-facts-about-the-bible/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 20:30:51 +0000http://catholicmom.com/?p=82163National Geographic Kids 1,000 Facts about the Bible packs a lot of information into a 96-page volume. There’s so much here that fellow CatholicMom.com contributor Nicole Ernest and I collaborated on this Tag-Team Book Review. This 96-page large-format hardcover reference book is packed with information and illustrated with sacred art and other relevant graphics and diagrams. The book retails for $14.99. There is no electronic version of this book available.

NICOLE: My children love learning and enjoy so many resources from National Geographic so when I was asked to review their new book, 1,000 Facts About the Bible, I was excited to get my hands on it. Just like the National Geographic Kids Magazine and their television shows and movies, the graphics are fantastic! I was also very impressed with the way that the authors organized the book with different popular topics like Family, Angels, Animals, Laws & Commandments, Miracles, Prophets, Apostles and more.

BARB: This book is written in an almanac style, which makes it intriguing for school-age children. It’s clearly a book meant for browsing, rather than reading straight through.

NICOLE: Our oldest child who is 5 years old loved the section on Lands of the Bible including People and Places from 20th Century B.C.E to 1st Century C.E. which includes a great map of important events of the time.

BARB: Nicole mentions maps; I thought the book missed a great opportunity in that area. There was a nice two-page spread at the beginning of the book, but I think children would have been interested in seeing specific maps showing routes that were used by the Israelites leaving Egypt, St. Paul in his travels to evangelize the world, and Jesus during his lifetime, to name just a few.

NICOLE: I enjoyed the 50 facts about Miracles and the 15 amazing facts about the Apostles which both included many of my favorite stories and facts about the Bible.

BARB: National Geographic will capture the interest of middle-grade kids with this book. Children younger than third grade would do best to explore this book with a parent, as vocabulary, place names and names of people will make for challenging reading. I enjoyed some of the creative page headings, such as “25 Telling Facts about Prophets” and “35 Sickening Facts about Plagues and Diseases.” It’s a shame that those headings didn’t translate into chapter titles in the Table of Contents. They definitely grab the attention of the middle-grade reader!

NICOLE: Also, though the 40 different topics in the book include things like Clothing, Hair, Fashion and Food, which I know can be topics of interest for today’s children, I would have liked to see more focus on the Church and faith that has resulted from the Bible and life of Jesus.

BARB: I realized that this book wasn’t going to be entirely compatible with the Catholic perspective when the Foreword mentioned that “the Old and New Testaments consist of around 66 individual ‘books’ (emphasis mine).” There is a disclaimer on a very early page of the book that “different religions add or subtract books of the Bible, reorder them or follow specific translations.” That, I thought, is a very good thing for children of all Christian traditions to understand, though I’d dispute the notion that some religions “add” books. The Catholic Church never “added” books to the Bible–rather, they never subtracted them. You can learn more about the differences between Catholic and Protestant Bibles here.

NICOLE: As a Catholic homeschooling parent I did have a few issues with some of the 1,000 facts from a Catholic viewpoint, but expected that from a secular company. One of them being one of their facts that “Jesus had four brothers – James, Joseph, Judas and Simon”, which Catholic Answers nicely disputed from the Catholic viewpoint HERE.

BARB: The use of “C.E.” and “B.C.E.” was yet another clue that we were dealing with a book that is not specifically Catholic.

NICOLE: Overall, I see the benefit of National Geographic publishing this book because I think that it is important for all children to be exposed to the history of the Bible and I think this book will help with this cause.

BARB: This is a good book for parents to explore together with their children. Because of the various issues caused by the book’s non-Catholic focus, parents would need to be ready to help their children learn what Catholics believe. If parents let their independent readers explore the book on their own, children might come away with erroneous information.

When you purchase 1,000 Facts about the Bible through our affiliate links in this post, you support the work we do here at CatholicMom.com, at no extra cost to you.

Genuine, spiritually powerful redemptive suffering does exist as a genuine call from God. However, what most of us experience is far from redemptive, because our suffering is not in union with Christ’s suffering.

Redemptive suffering is not long-faced misery, because it is life-giving and life-affirming as we live in, with and through Christ our Saviour. This suffering might involve physical pain, but it is lived in the Light, in peace and in joy. When we are no longer the centre of attention, but we chose to make Jesus Christ the centre, all heavy, psychological despair and mental anguish dissipates like insubstantial mist under the burning sunlight.

It takes humility to realize our miserable, self-inflicted suffering does not save anyone, least of all ourselves. Accepting Jesus as our Saviour really goes against our grain as human beings because we want to earn our salvation, purify ourselves by suffering out of a misplaced sense of guilt. Ironically, it usually takes suffering to break down our ego and pride.

Once exhausted by trying to save ourselves, we often must hit rock bottom before we are desperate enough to change, to let go of our pride and control and surrender in humility to Christ our Saviour. A drowning man realizes he needs to be saved. A sick man grasps the truth that he needs to be healed.

The words from Isaiah 58:5-6 are like brilliant beams of light, cutting through any false notions we might have about this season of repentance that we call Lent.

Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?

Yes, we tend to think of Lent as a time to share in the suffering of Christ yet when we do so, we become morose and end up centering more on our own sacrificial devotions than on God. Lent is a time to get rid of the flub in our lives but only so we are able to connect more to the Heart of our Beloved, and more on the people around us who are in need. Lent is not an excuse for dramatic acts of fasting, wearing sackcloth and ashes, figuratively or literally.

Our Father is not interested in such spectacles which simply focus on ourselves and our sins. As mortals. we are all the same. As St. Paul says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. (Romans: 3:23) This fact is a given. The truly repentant man, the sort of man who is acceptable to God, is described in the Psalms. A repentant man is contrite, humbly acknowledging his sin in simplicity, trusting more in God’s mercy than any of his own heroic acts of supposed repentance. It is God alone who washes us from guilt, who cleanses us from sin. He is not concerned with mere outer actions of repentance like sacrifices but on our inner attitude. Only a humble and contrite heart will do.

Not only is God looking for an attitude of true humility but He desires positive actions. We all fall into the dubious habit of asking, ”So, what are you giving up for Lent this year?” Wrong question, folks. Isaiah 58:6-11 is quite clear,

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.

Then the Scripture breaks into words of glorious joy, inspiring hope in all of us mere humans because positive acts of mercy, love and concern shine like beacons of light into this world of ours. God will then forgive us and vindicate us. He will answer our prayers with mercy because we have shown mercy in positive acts of love and concern to those in need.

]]>http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/redemptive-suffering-and-the-phony-victim-complex/feed/090 Minutes in Heaven Invites Each of Us to Consider God's Immense Love for Ushttp://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/90-minutes-in-heaven-invites-each-of-us-to-consider-gods-immense-love-for-us/
http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/90-minutes-in-heaven-invites-each-of-us-to-consider-gods-immense-love-for-us/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 18:27:16 +0000http://catholicmom.com/?p=82225
“Heaven is a real place, and you can go there…”

If I think back to my recent visit to the set of the movie 90 Minutes in Heaven, those are the words that have stayed with me. As we begin our journey through Holy Week, I wanted to share this amazing story with you and invite you into a consideration of what this movie can mean to people who don’t yet believe in heaven or in God’s love for them.

In mid-February, I found myself in an uncomfortably “brisk” Atlanta suburb on the set to view a portion of the filming of this movie, which is based upon the best-selling book 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life. Somehow, the book (which has sold over 7 million copies in multiple languages) was not one I’d read or even heard of. But when I received the invitation to travel to the set, I jumped at the chance. As our readers know, I love supporting faith-based and family-friendly films and seeing them thrive.

As it turned out, the people we spent the most time with on set were Don and Eva Piper themselves. If you don’t know their story, here’s a brief synopsis of their “real life” story as shared in Don’s book:

As he is driving home from a minister’s conference, Baptist minister Don Piper collides with a semi-truck that crosses into his lane. He is pronounced dead at the scene. For the next 90 minutes, Piper experiences heaven where he is greeted by those who had influenced him spiritually. He hears beautiful music and feels true peace. Back on earth, a passing minister who had also been at the conference is led to pray for Don even though he knows the man is dead. Piper miraculously comes back to life and the bliss of heaven is replaced by a long and painful recovery. For years Piper kept his heavenly experience to himself. Finally, however, friends and family convinced him to share his remarkable story.

Our visit began with a welcome dinner the first night and an orientation to the film. It was a great blessing to pray in the company of other journalists who had come from around the country to learn about and to share the project. That night, we heard from the film’s producer, Rick Jackson, about his company’s commitment to moving into the entertainment business. Family Christian Stores’ new sister company, Family Christian Entertainment committed not only to making this movie, but also to ensuring that it remained true to Don Piper’s real story.

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Don and Eva Piper, sharing the experience of seeing the story of their lives made into a movie. In "real life", they are a beautiful, caring couple who have ministered to millions around the world with their writing and speaking ministries.

Also joining us at the dinner was popular Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith, who plays the role of Pastor Chris McArdle in the movie. Many people will look at this story and think that the entire film should deal with Don and his struggles. But as Michael shared with us, the film–and the real story of what happened in Don’s life–is as much related to Eva, the Pipers’ children, and their church community as it was to Don.

The highlight of our set visit was the great amount of time we were able to spend personally with Don and Eva Piper. Their personal commitment to the authenticity of the movie shone through. But the true thing I learned from spending time with Don and Eva was the enormity of their commitment to sharing this story because of the hearts and souls that could be touched and saved in the process.

Both Don and Eva travel tirelessly to churches around the world retelling Don’s story. Both are firmly committed to supporting one another. Their love for each other shines through in the easy way in which they finish each other’s sentences or simply in the way they look at each other when the other is speaking. And lest you think that this is something that’s happening just for the cameras, let me assure you that after having the pleasure of sitting across the dinner table from Don Piper for a few hours that his esteem for his lovely wife is both real and profound. As for Eva, she is the type of woman you’d love to have as your best friend: strong, honest, hilarious, and courageous.

I don’t know what the end product will look like, but having spent time learning about this story and the mission of this film, I feel confident that 90 Minutes in Heaven is going to be another amazing opportunity to share the beauty of what a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can bring into our lives. The film will provide us with a special way to share a message with our loved ones, both the churched and the un-churched, about a powerful truth:

Radiant Awakening is Radiant Magazine’s special annual edition that covers traditional topics of the Catholic Church and applies them to the modern lives of young, Catholic women who are searching, learning and living out their unique calling with style, elegance, beauty and grace.

Out this April and catering to young women ages 14-30, it’s the perfect gift for your youth group, young daughter, newly married niece, or Catholic mother. Featuring DIY crafts, Lila Rose on hormonal contraception, Crystalina Evert on Do’s and Don’ts of Dating, Sarah Swafford’s Virtue Quiz, Theology of the Body, Finding your Femininity in Fashion and so much more!

]]>http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/radiant-awakening-aims-to-stir-the-hearts-of-young-catholic-women/feed/0"MOOC" Breaks Open Evangelii Gaudium and Invites YOU to Bring It to Lifehttp://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/mooc-breaks-open-evangelii-gaudium-and-invites-you-to-bring-it-to-life/
http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/mooc-breaks-open-evangelii-gaudium-and-invites-you-to-bring-it-to-life/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 15:29:51 +0000http://catholicmom.com/?p=82184I’m guessing that while many of our readers have never heard of a “MOOC” before, the concept behind an upcoming learning opportunity will really appeal to you. MOOC stands for Massive, Open, Online, Course and in this case the topic to be discussed is Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. While the conversation is being hosted by National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders, parents are specifically being encouraged to attend and participate. The great thing about a MOOC (along with the fact that it’s FREE) is that the online format allows you to learn according to your own schedule and in the company of other course participants from around the country.

I’m including a press release below that spells out the specifics of the format and the amazing instructors who will be teaching us. I’ve already signed up to learn and hope you will too. While most of us are not “youth ministers”, without a doubt every parent ministers to our youth. Savoring and digesting Evangelii Guadium and the joy Pope Francis leads us to in living out the Gospel will be a true blessing for our families this Easter season and beyond. I hope you’ll join me for this great opportunity!

Thousands expected to participate in online Youth Ministry Discussion

An international Massive Open Online Course for those helping young people encounter Jesus

Washington D.C.: Almost a thousand people have pre-registered for an upcoming free MOOC that takes a closer look at Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, in relation to the faith lives of today’s youth.

The National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders (NACYML) is hosting a Massive, Open, Online, Course (MOOC) that has already attracted registrants from America, Canada, England and Australia.

The NACYML MOOC weekly will include a reading from Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium, a video from a Master Teacher, a live panel discussion (offered at both 1 and 8 p.m. CST), discussion boards with a Net-Sourcing learning community of participants’ choosing, and additional content and resources from ministerial organizations and experts.

Net-Sourcing learning community discussion boards will be available for those in youth ministry, Catholic school teaching, campus ministry, young adult ministry, religious education, continuing education, scouting, Hispanic ministry and parents/guardians.

The NACYML MOOC is open to anyone interested in learning more about ministering to young people, and/or Evangelii Gaudium. Continuing Education Units will be available for those wanting to fully engage in course materials and complete a learning journal.

To register or to learn more about the NACYML MOOC, visit www.nacyml.org. You may also follow @NACYML or #NACYMLMOOC on Facebook or Twitter for regular updates.

NACYML is a service center for the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).

]]>http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/mooc-breaks-open-evangelii-gaudium-and-invites-you-to-bring-it-to-life/feed/0Remade for Happinesshttp://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/remade-for-happiness/
http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/30/remade-for-happiness/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 13:30:58 +0000http://catholicmom.com/?p=81911Today, I will be reviewing Remade for Happiness. This book was originally published in 1946, but Ignatius Press has recently re-released it for our spiritual edification! There are fourteen chapters in this book. The first seven are questions Sheen asks and answers for us.

1. Are you happy?

2. What is God like?

3. What are you like?

4. How did you get that way?

5. Who can remake you?

6. Is religion purely individual?

7. How can you be remade (if you so choose to be remade)?

As you can see, there is a natural progression with the questions. The first question leads us to the realization that though we experience moments of happiness, we are not truly happy. If we were, then we wouldn’t need to continue to look for happiness. The second question introduces to God, the One who can make us happy. We are then juxtaposed with God and it is explained why we are the way we are. Chapter Five brings God back into the picture and explains that we cannot remake ourselves. If we could, we would not need God. Six also strips away the pride of the individual letting us know that we cannot experience salvation alone. We need others to get to Heaven. That is why we have Mother Church. Then, in one of the longer chapters, Chapter Seven walks us through the process of being remade.

The next four chapters in this book walk us through the Four Last Things – Judgment, Purgatory, Hell, and Heaven. He explains that in our judgment, everything will be stripped away and we will be left to be judged by our choices. However, God will not be the one judging us. We will be judging ourselves by the life we lived. There will be no pleading or bargaining, merely the cold reality of truth. After this judgment, he explains so succinctly that there are three possible destinations. “Hell: Pain without Love; Purgatory: Pain with Love; and Heaven: Love without Pain.” The final three chapters fittingly deal with faith, hope, and charity (or love).

I was born 3 years after Fulton Sheen’s death, so I never had the opportunity to see or listen to him live. That doesn’t mean I haven’t watched or listened to almost all of his old programs, though. This book is classic Sheen and reads like he is there speaking the words to you. It is practical, straightforward theology without unnecessary words. Part of me is telling me to pass on my copy of this book to someone else, so they may gain from its riches. The other part of me is telling me to keep this book and reread it at least once more. You too might experience this conflict after you read it, so you better buy two!

Support the work we do at CatholicMom.com by purchasing Remade for Happiness through our affiliate link! You pay nothing extra!

When thinking of the perfume filling the house from the woman’s oils, I wince at the thought of what those fragrances would be doing to my sinuses. Maybe they didn’t have allergies way back in ancient times, who knows, but what we do know is that these oils were very precious. Fragrant oils were used for all kinds of purposes from food preparation, to medicinal, to religious rites, to preparing a body for burial. According to Judas, these oils could be purchased for 300 days’ wages. Wow, I don’t know about you, but 300 days’ wages now would be quite a load of money! The priorities of men differ from one to another depending on their moral values; Judas was used to getting some of this money and using it for his own desires. His values were far from those of the other apostles; money seemed to have blinded him from the simpler, more charitable side of life.

How many times have you splurged on one of your family members just because? Out of love and affection sometimes, money was no object, and Mary felt that way toward Jesus at that moment–probably in thanksgiving for her brother Lazarus’s life being restored. We don’t always think ahead if some unforeseen expense would occur; we don’t always know what the future holds for the family budget, and sometimes we throw caution to the wind when it comes to our love and affection for one another. Christ knew this, but he also wanted to let those in the room know that a future need will be arising soon. It will be an event in which, to most of those in the room, money will be the last thing on their minds.

Ponder:

We all know what happens next; we all know the evil and the end to Judas, but what does it tell us now? I think it tells us that tomorrow will come, and things will happen that we will have no control of, but we have today. How many of us save the best china for “special” occasions? We don’t always have the family members together; we don’t always have time for these special occasions. Sometimes that special occasion ends up being the last time we see someone we love alive due to an accident, illness, or whatever. We are not promised tomorrow, but what we are promised is this moment, right now.

Pray:

Dear Lord, help us to make it a priority to love each other now and appreciate our blessings in family, friends, and neighbors. Help us to love unconditionally and realize that what is around the corner is in your hands and to be assured that You are in control. Amen.

Jesus’ Passion began long before Good Friday; perhaps His entire life encompassed the human fear of accepting His Divine Purpose. Perhaps, like all of us, Jesus felt the urge to run away from the inevitable and impending suffering He was asked to endure, a psychological, political, emotional, and visceral pain that supersedes all brokenness, strife, and struggle of the history of creation after the fall of humanity. Jesus bore that—alone, in a stark emotional nakedness—because He is Love personified.

Consider this feast day: Palm Sunday, always a somber occasion, a time for reflection and remorse, repentance and response. We hear the Passion of our Lord proclaimed every year, sometimes more than once per year, and somehow we have become immune and deaf to its powerful message. Somehow we have become lost and bored in this dramatic journey in which we are invited to be active participants, but we are welcomed to walk with Jesus from Gethsemane to Golgotha and finally to Eternal Life.

Unlike some views on the Passion of Christ, I believe it is a love story, a story of relief and redemption, a story of joy and hope. If all ended with Jesus’ Crucifixion, the finale of our faith would be futile and void. But since it is only the beginning of this love story, we must always look beyond the darkness into the eventual and eternal light that exists beyond the suffering.

Consider the words of Jesus to His disciples: “Take up your cross and follow Me.” “Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you do not have life within you.” “Anyone who denies Himself for My sake will inherit eternal life.” Today, as we meditate and contemplate our Savior’s Passion, we must acknowledge that this occasion is a culmination of His entire ministry, one that is timeless and perpetuates His message of truth and love in the heart of every person. Jesus wants to remind us, gently and gingerly, that His journey was not meant to be solitary, but rather a personal walk with Him from His birth to His ascension. Every experience and encounter, every emotion and effect that Jesus presented through His very existence, was meant to be a spiritual metaphor and personal invitation to you and to me.

If we truly want to claim our Christianity, then we must desire nothing less than the Heart of the One who chose life and death for our sakes and salvation. To know Him intimately, to encounter Jesus every moment of our lives, requires us to actively participate in our personal call to discipleship, which always includes sacrifice, self-denial, and suffering.

Perhaps we can begin to view the darkness of our lives as a gift from Jesus, an act of love that He either wills or permits to happen so that we can truly live our own personal passion, so that we can unite our own sufferings out of love with the suffering of His sorrowful Passion. Perhaps today we can open our hearts in gratitude for all that defines our lives: the joys and blessings, the losses and mysteries.

Ponder:

What role do I play in Jesus’ Passion? Do I approach Jesus with humility and repentance like the woman who anointed His feet with perfume? Have I betrayed Jesus by denying my faith to others whom I fear may ridicule me? Have I been blind to the presence of Christ in my life, like the bystanders who mocked Him? Have I been faithful through the mysteries and darkness of life, like Our Lady and St. John the Evangelist? Meditate on your role in the Passion of Jesus, and then ask Him to reveal to you what role He wills for you to play.

Pray:

Jesus of Nazareth, you are truly the Son of God, for there never has existed a mortal man who has willingly offered Himself as the Sacrificial Lamb of God. You truly take away my sins and those of the entire world; have mercy on me, a sinner. I come to you on this beautiful Feast of Your Passion with empty hands, begging you to fill them with Your outpouring of Mercy and Love. Jesus, I love You; help me to love You more. Amen.

]]>http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/29/daily-gospel-reflection-for-march-29-2015/feed/0The Gist: Fun & Financialshttp://catholicmom.com/2015/03/28/the-gist-fun-financials/
http://catholicmom.com/2015/03/28/the-gist-fun-financials/#commentsSat, 28 Mar 2015 22:30:38 +0000http://catholicmom.com/?p=82018Season four of the CatholicTV Network’s series for Catholic women, TheGist, airs this fall with all-new shows. Tune in every Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. Eastern for a new episode of the CatholicTV show focusing on Catholic women and their families.

Each week, Catholic personalities Danielle Bean, Rachel Balducci and Carolee McGrath host The Gist. They discuss topics such as abortion, raising teens in the faith and confession.

In this episode, the women of The Gist, Danielle Bean, Rachel Balducci and Carolee McGrath, discuss how they celebrate birthdays and other special events as well as how they manage their finances. Their guest is Phil Linehan of Veritas Financial Ministries.

You’ve probably caught the commercials or maybe even seen some of the episodes for CNN’s interesting new show Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery. Today, we’re happy to share a recent email conversation with one of the show’s contributors, Dr. Mark Goodacre. For more information on Finding Jesus, visit CNN or the show’s Facebook page. Lisa

Q: Dr. Goodacre, thank you for your time and participation in this interview. Please begin by briefly introducing yourself to our readers.

Many thanks for inviting me to talk to you. My name is Mark Goodacre. and I’m a professor of Religious Studies at Duke University. I am originally from the U.K., but I love living here in the USA. I’ve been in North Carolina for ten years and Duke is a great place to teach and research. The main focus of my work is the New Testament and early Christianity.

Dr. Mark Goodacre – Image courtesy of CNN, used with permission

Q: How did you become involved in CNN’s Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery series? Please share a bit about the premise for this show.

I’ve been working with a great team in London (Nutopia) since last summer. As a consultant, my involvement is basically to chat to the team about the episodes and to take a look at scripts and to answer any questions that they put to me. One of the things that I really liked about the series from the first was that it had a genuinely fresh and interesting way of looking at the historical Jesus. A lot of documentaries go for the sensational in the attempt to attract viewers (Jesus’ tomb has been found! Jesus has got married to Mary Magdalene again! You know the kind of thing). But this was a fair and balanced approach, and I really liked the idea of treating a different character in each episode by means of exploring a different historical artifact in each episode.

Q: Your commentary figures prominently in the show’s first episode on the Shroud of Turin. I was fascinated by the multi-faith perspectives as well as the archaeological information shared in the show. What are the merits of this type of conversation for the viewer to relate to the topics being discussed?

I appreciated the producers’ attempts to be fair and balanced about an issue as controversial as the authenticity of the Turin Shroud, even though I am a sceptic. I think there is no chance that it is authentic, but I understand that there are many who feel passionately about the topic. It’s interesting that I have had more correspondence about this topic than about anything else connected with the series, so it is clear that there are many who dearly wish to believe that this is the burial cloth of Jesus. I understand their passion. As a child, I was fascinated by the Turin Shroud and was excited by the possibility that it might put us in touch with the historical Jesus. But when the science does not line up with our dearly held hopes, we have to swallow hard and face up to the reality of what I think of as a reluctant skepticism.

Image courtesy of CNN, used with permission

Q: Some parents may feel that certain portions of the reenactment scenes dealing with Christ’s passion and death are too graphic for younger viewers. How would you say that these sends lend to the overall message of the program?

One of the difficulties with reflecting on Jesus’ Passion is that it was a gruesome and appalling death. Any representation of the Passion has to make decisions about how much or how little it represents of that appalling reality. Some feel that Mel Gibson, for example, went too far in The Passion of the Christ. On the whole, I think that Finding Jesus gets the balance about right. It evokes elements in his Passion that are relevant to the discussion without going too far. And the programs go out at 9 p.m., which in the U.K. we regard as the TV “watershed,” after which viewer discretion is advised.

Q: Not having seen all of the series episodes, I’m curious as to how the question “Faith, Fact or Forgery” will be resolved in the end. Obviously, you can’t share too much on that, but please do share how being a part of this program has been impactful for you professionally, personally and spiritually.

Well, I like the fact that there is that fine alliteration! But more seriously, I think there is a good balance here between artifacts that are unlikely to be authentic and artifacts that have a better claim to antiquity. The series has helped me to think through the way that some Christians have become devoted to some of the objects covered. That’s a useful reminder for someone like me who is in a Religious Studies department and who attempts to approach all of this material from a detached, historical perspective.

Q: How might viewers prayerfully include this series in their Lenten journey?

This is a tough question for someone like me who discusses this material from an academic perspective, but I would encourage people of faith to use what they learn to provide some deeper engagement with the Biblical texts. Some Christians can be afraid of academic study, as if it might attack their faith. But there is a long tradition of academic study being at the heart of a strong Christian faith, and I think Christians should not be afraid of embracing good scholarship. It can be liberating.

Q: Thank you for your time and participation. Are there any additional thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers?

I would just encourage everyone to keep an open mind. The value of a series like Finding Jesus is not only in educating us about things we did not know about but also in broadening our horizons and encouraging us to do our own study following on from the stimulation the series provides.

We now come to the Sunday with a split personality. It starts with an upbeat gospel recounting Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is a festive affair, complete with a parade route strewn with palm branches instead of ticker tape. But we quickly progress to the stark reading of Jesus’ passion, bearable only because we already know its happy ending. Mel Gibson’s film did us a favor in reminding us how shockingly brutal the whole business really was.

Two names for the same day: Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. I propose a third name: Fickle Sunday. For the same crowd that was cheering during the parade were jeering a few days later.

They’d been wowed by his sermons, fed with loaves and fishes, healed of their diseases, delivered of their demons. But as soon as the tide began to turn, so did they. Their cries of “Hosanna” turned to shouts of a very different kind: “Crucify him!”

Of course, he was not surprised in the least. The gospels tell us that he knew the human mind heart all too well. He was not fooled by all the acclamations and fanfare. Flattery could not swell his head. He had no illusions of grandeur or ambition for worldly glory. In fact, our second reading tells us that he had willingly emptied himself of heavenly glory in pursuit of his true passion–His Father’s will and our salvation.

He “set his face like flint.” He was on a mission and nothing would deter him. He barreled through barriers that usually stop us dead in our tracks–fear of ridicule, fear of suffering, abandonment by our closest companions. He was willing to endure the sting of sin to blot out sin, and was eager to face death in order to overcome it.

He did indeed have a “well-­trained tongue.” His words had mesmerized the crowds, intrigued Herod and even made Pilate stop and think. But now his lips are strangely silent. All the gospels point out that he said very little during his passion, collecting only seven brief statements from the cross. Maybe this was to fulfill the Scripture that said “like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth” (Is 53: 7b). Actually, everything that happened in these fateful hours fulfilled Scripture. Isaiah 50 had foretold the beating and mockery. Psalm 22 lays it all out hundreds of years before it happens: his thirst, the piercing of his hands and feet by Gentiles (called “dogs” by the Jews), and the casting of lots for his clothing.

The opening line of this psalm happens to be “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Could it be that the Lord uttered this phrase to remind us that this was all in the plan?

So the virtual silence of his well­-trained tongue was to fulfill Scripture. But there was another reason for his silence. Though Jesus was destined to preach on Good Friday, the message was not to be delivered in words. The language of this sermon was to be body language. Good Friday, according to Jewish reckoning, actually began at Sundown on Holy Thursday. So on the beginning of his final day, Jesus gave us the verbal caption of his last and greatest sermon: “This is my body, given for you; this is my blood, which is poured out for you.”

“I love you” is not so much something you say as something you demonstrate. Diamonds may be a moving testimony to love, but the laying down of one’s life is even more compelling. And though this life is human and therefore vulnerable, it is also divine and therefore infinite in value. A gift so valuable that it outweighs every offense committed from the dawn of time till the end of the world. An act so powerful that it melts hearts, opens the barred gates of paradise, and makes all things new.

Chapter Nine opens with Scott and Megan settling into a new routine together. From learning to drive a new car to making things run more efficiently around Scott’s (now “their”) place, Megan seems to be adjusting very well to her new life. As the chapter progresses, we learn that Scott is on the receiving end of some jokes at work, but that his home life seems orderly and comfortable. Megan’s pregnancy progresses until we finally meet little Grace Marie Kyle at the conclusion of this chapter.

I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the scene in the delivery room. Scott seems much like many of the new fathers I’ve met: anxious, uncertain, and perhaps a bit helpless. But after little Grace is born and Scott compliments Megan, her response “Likewise, Dad… I couldn’t have done it without you” is teasing, but also true!

Chapter Ten opens with Scott returning to work. While he seems to be not on the best of terms with his co-workers, one–Jake–offers some kind support. Work gets much busier for Scott, but he seems to truly enjoy coming home to Megan and especially little Grace at the end of the day. One night, Scott experiences a terrific nightmare which is described in great and foreboding detail. At work, Scott begins to notice small anomalies, but is too busy to take much notice. Scott arrives home late one night and Megan surprises him with a glass of wine. She reminds him that the day is actually their first anniversary. When Megan thanks Scott for his friendship and support, Scott’s response, “I get a great household manager and a delightful little playmate in the bargain,” is a telling remark about the state of their arrangement.

When Scott heads into work the next morning at the start of Chapter Eleven, it’s clear that trouble is on the horizon. Scott’s meeting with Brian becomes his last day at work due to a buyout of the company. He acts foolishly by tearing his severance check into pieces. When Scott goes home and informs Megan about what has happened at work, things seem even more hopeless. After a fight and some sharp words, Megan and Scott seem to be able to come together by the end of the chapter to consider what might possibly be coming next for them. And while the options don’t seem too bright, at least the two parents are looking at them together.

These chapters of the book reminded me of a few moments that Greg and I experienced as newlyweds and new parents. While we obviously never faced the strange circumstances that Scott and Megan find themselves in, we had our fair share of financial strain, parenting snafus, and impatience. I look back now and realize that it was our faith in God and the strong example of loving marriages in our lives that helped us to find our way through the stress and challenges. Certainly, for our characters, the lack of a spiritual support system is definitely not making life any easier!

To Ponder, Reflect, and Discuss:

If you are a parent, what do you remember about the first moments in which you met your precious newborn child? What memories do you have of your spouse in that moment?

If you are married, how did you celebrate your first anniversary? What might you do differently now to mark that occasion with your spouse?

Have you or your spouse ever dealt with a financial crisis or unemployment? How did your faith sustain you during your challenges?

Feel free to comment on your own thoughts from this week’s reading, your impressions and reflections, and/or your answers to these questions.

Today’s Gospel comes right after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. That final sign that John tells us about causes many people to come to believe in Jesus because of what they saw. It also causes the Sanhedrin to plan to kill him. Why? In a word, fear. They feared what they did not understand and they feared repercussions from the Romans. And so the plan was put in motion.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. All during Lent we have tried to grow in holiness with our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. One way to holiness is to learn to not allow fear to prevent us from getting in the way of growing. Fear does not come from God, and it can cause us to do things which are contrary to holiness. The Sanhedrin is an extreme example of a group of people ruled by fear. Who are we afraid of? What are we afraid of? When I read this Gospel it strikes me that the fear here is of change. If only that fear could have been given over to God then they too could have seen Jesus for who he was and believed in him.

Ponder:

Do I have fears which keep me from growing in holiness or becoming a person who trusts in God without reservation?

Pray:

Father God, thank you for sending your Son to save us. As we begin Holy Week help me to name and face any fears I have, especially those which keep me from trusting you. Lead me as I enter into your Son’s passion, death, and resurrection to fully understand what it means to be free of fear and trust in you alone. Amen.